Samsung HT-C6200 2.1-Channel Blu-ray System - Samsung HT-C6200
Review

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The main unit oozes style. Most eye-catching is the top panel, which features touch-sensitive controls and a snazzy see-through window that shows you the spinning disc. Viewed head-on it’s incredibly slim, and on the fascia you’ll find an odd-looking bump that houses touch-sensitive volume controls, a flap hiding the USB port and a simple if not particularly large display panel in the centre.

The HT-C6200 provides plenty of connections, which is great news if you’re hoping to run other components through it. Owners of hi-def TV receivers and games consoles will welcome the pair of HDMI v1.3 inputs, which let you switch between connected sources at the touch of a button.

Joining the HDMIs are Component and Composite video outputs; analogue stereo and optical digital audio inputs; and an Ethernet port that provides an alternative way of connecting to a network. Completing the roster is an FM aerial terminal and a connection point for the supplied iPhone-compatible iPod dock. Alas we weren’t supplied with a dock to try out.

In the box you’ll find three speaker cables terminated at one end by coloured plugs that match sockets on the main unit, a reminder that systems like these are aimed at beginners. As a result, installation takes minutes rather than hours.

Samsung has spruced up the entire operating system, and thanks to its efforts the HT-C6200 is much simpler to use than the company’s previous Blu-ray players and systems like the HT-BD1252 – particularly when it comes to setting up the wireless functionality. The fact that you don’t need a £50 USB dongle is progress in itself, but the setup procedure generally seems less convoluted this time round, even down to simple things like entering text on the virtual keyboard.

The clever, attractive on-screen design makes the system immensely enjoyable to operate. After whirring into life with a jaunty jingle, up pops a newly designed main menu that uses large cartoon-like icons to illustrate each function and operates more speedily than previous Samsung Blu-ray machines. You can switch between connected devices by pressing the red button and for each one you can select Music, Video or Photos. The setup menu is also found here, which is straightforward and thorough.